Welcome Lilly

Time to get caught up! 

I haven't blogged once since this bundle of joy arrived on August 6, 2013. Lilly was due on the 5th. My doctor said I could come to the hospital the day after if she hadn't come one her own. THANK GOODNESS! I felt huge and I was so soooooo uncomfortable all they time. 

Mom came over around 5:30 am to stay with Danny so we could head to the hospital at 6. It's a little strange going in when you're not in labor. The hospital was quiet and cozy, and it felt like we were the only ones on the labor and delivery floor. I had the most amazing nurse. Her name was Julie. She made us feel so comfortable, and she made us laugh a lot! It took a little while to get things going, but soon a nurse popped her head in:

"Sarah, are you wanting an epidural today?"

"Absolutely, yes, 100% want one!"

3 minutes later...

"The anesthesiologist is available right now, would you like your epidural now?"

"Uhhh really? Even though I'm not even in labor yet? You can do that?"

So in came the anesthesiologist. I made it through the epidural and IV (snakes are my absolute biggest fear, but needles are definitely second), and then they broke my water once I was good and numb. 

After a while the nurse said. "Oh look you're starting to have contractions!" 

I didn't even know. I was too busy playing a game with Nick on his phone.

A couple hours later I woke up from a nap and looked at the monitor, "So if I wasn't numb, would those contractions be pretty painful?"

"Oh yes honey." 

Drifted off to sleep again while Nick hung out on the huge comfy couch next to me. The next time I woke up it was time to push! About 12 minutes later Lilly was in my arms, crying her sweet little cry.

Lillian Sarah Leonard

8 lb 3 oz

21 1/2 inches 

Scored a 10/10 on the Apgar scale!

She was big and healthy.

We told Danny that he was going to be a big brother when I was less than 3 months a long, so he had been waiting a long time for this day. He loved coming to the hospital to meet his new sister (almost as much as the elevator ride right before).

We told him that she was his baby too. He adored her from the moment he first saw her, and couldn't wait to bring her home.

Danny watching over Lilly at just 4 days old.

5 days old

5 days

3 weekes old

Danny adjusted so easily to having a baby in the house. He never complained about all the time I spent taking care of her. He would just play right next to me with his toys while I fed her, changed her, whatever I was doing. If I had to leave the room he would just pick up his toys and bring them to wherever we were. He loved all the one on one time he got with his daddy during those first few weeks while I was busy with Lilly.

The hardest thing for him, was not getting his usual three bedtime stories, and having mom or dad lay next to him while he fell asleep. He got one story every few nights if we were lucky. This made me so sad but we all adjusted, and the older she gets the more we get back into our regular bedtime routines.

Nick and I have decided that we REALLY don't like the newborn stage. 

For me, trying to figure out nursing, staying up all night and hoping for a nap or two during the day, and not to mention the terrible feeling when I look in the mirror and wonder if my poor stretched out body will ever look normal again. 

For Nick trying to prepare for a brand new job as a first ear teacher with an emotional wife at home, Danny begging him to play ever second he is home, and a screaming baby that keeps him up 'til 2 am. 

Yeah its not our favorite, but it is so worth it, and there's no going back now! It's been a little rough adjusting to another little one, but each day gets a little easier. Everything that is hard seems to be a phase that eventually ends, and we grow to love our little Lillers more and more every day.